The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-09-14


signal, though the vicious kicks he gave
on landing were calculated to unseat any
one, unless like a Centaur he had been
indissolubly joined to his horse. l think
Sprite deeply regretted that piece of
treschery. The lesson he received 1t did
me good to see, and when at length he
was allowed pause to recover breath and
spirits, a meeker, sadder, more injured
looking pony it would have been hard to
find.
had long since recognized my cham
pion as Mr.. Walter Devereux, class
mate of my elder brother Clarence,
though | had not seen him since class
day, when he beguiled me out of five
dances. / thanked him warmly, and
Leslie quietly, for his assistance, though
/ was still thoroughly scared at the ride
before me.
As Mr.. Devereux talked he kept Sprite
moving up and down, and seemed to be
adjusting the saddle Suddenly he lifted
it off the pony, and before l realized
what was going on he had his own saddle
on Sprite, and was buckling mine on his
horse.
"What are you going to doF' 1 asked,
hastily.
with your permission, Miss Arbuth-
not, am going to put you on my mare,
and ride your pony back myself" was
the answer. "Pet Marjorie is a perfect
ly trained and steady animal, and Just
now you are not in a condition to contend
with that wilful little pony of yours"
Leslie looked very much as if she
would have liked to object, but did not
well know how to do so. Nothing could
be urged against Mr.. Devereux except
her general aversion to men, and she was,
besides, think, a good deal mortified at
having failed to get Roushan Bey up in
time.
Mr.. Devereux was therefore permitted
to join us on our homework ride. Sprite
was a marvel Of propriety, though an oc-
casional shy or swerve made me glad |
was not on his back.
! Somehow after that it came about that
Mr.. Devereux often accompanied us on
our rides. l was more timid than ever,
and Mr.. Devereux undertook to give
/ Sprite some much needed lessons in sub
mission to his lot, begging me meantime
to keep Pet Marjorie exercised, as he
wanted his sister to ride her later on.
| Once or twice Clarence went with us, but
he and Leslie never got on well together.
Les did not like chaff, and had no small
talk; indeed, l am afraid she was often
bored by the incessant banter that Mr..
Devereux and l kept up; but then she
could always abstract herself, and find
sufficient company in Rousham Bey.
1t was not long before | knew that
Walter Devereux was over head and
ears in love with me, while well, / did
not want to define to myself what
thought about him. For the first time
in my life l was curiously, strangely shy
with mau. did not want him to go
away, still less did want to be forced to
any decision, for life was so bright and
happy Just then dreaded any change.
Though we met often elsewhere, the rides
were best of all-trees, birds and squirrels
tell no tales.
One morning after a brisk canter up
the west tide of the reservoir, we pulled
mp at the north end, and turned out on
the east drive, meeting face to face a
horseman who was trotting leisurely
down the drive. "Walterm "Marion !!
broke from the stranger and Mr.. Deve-
reux simultaneously, as the two men
clasped hands. Then, turning to us,
Walter Devereux asked permission to in
troduce his brother Marion.
Leslie, could see, was utterly discon.
certed, and instantly relapsed into one OF
her most desperate fits of dumb shyness
an infrmity which had been gradually
disappearing under the influence OF
Walter Devereux's sunny, cordial man
ners and bright boyish ways. Neverthe
les she did her best, and after a few
words had passed we all continued ny
the east drive, Leslie leading with Walter
This arrangement did not altogether
please. Though Marion DevereuX mad,
himself very agreeable, his big gray
horse, Vindex, was too frisky to suit mt
as n neighbor. AS we were turning
around the north end of the park, Pei
Marjorie did something or other thai
caused me to give slight scream anC
drop my whip, This brought Walter
back at once, and caused VindeX tC
dance and prance in way that at once
excited Leslie's admiration, while the
abominable capers that Roushan Bey i'm
mediately proceeded to execute as evi
IDENTIFY filled Marion Deyereux with re
spect and approval.
Walter found that ret Marjorie glrthS
needed tightening, and l took the oppor
tunity to adjust my hair. Perhaps Walter
need not have spent so much time but
toning my gloves and arranging my
skirt, but men are silly creatures, the
wisest of them.
When we overlook Leslie and Marion
they were halfway up Seventh avenue
walking their horses slowly forward anC
chatting like old friends; and mex
morning, when Walter and Marion ap
peared together, there were no blacl
looks or freezing glances from Leslie
quite the reverse. Once get shy CIR
started, and what pace she will go
In less than a fortnight Les and Marion
had neither eyes, ears, nor tongue for an.
one but themselves. Shakespeare say
something about making a pair of stair
to love tat least Mary Anderson says it
if Shakespeare didn't, but what thes
two made was a toboggan slide. If
had acted sol
One day late in June we all met at tn
riding school for the last time befor
separating for the summer. This rid
we meant should be long one, but tn
day was very unpromising. 1t ha'
rained the whole night through, tn
+ roads were very muddy, and the SIX
anything but clear. Nevertheless, afte
, much discussion, and sitting aroun'
, the parlors, and going to the door t